Climate change adaptation plan for the Montréal Urban Agglomeration 2015-2020, Adaptation ...

246 Pages·2017·2.15 MB·English

CLIMATE CHANGE
ADAPTATION
PLAN FOR THE
MONTRÉAL URBAN
AGGLOMERATION
2015-2020
ADAPTATION
MEASURES
2 CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLAN 2015-2020 - ADAPTATION MEASURES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ADAPTATION MEASURES
Introduction to the briefs .................................................................................................................................................................4
Follow up mechanisms.....................................................................................................................................................................6
HIGHER AVERAGE TEMPERATURES
1.1 Protect biodiversity ....................................................................................................................................................................7
1.2 Increase infrastructures’ resilience to the freeze-thaw cycle ...................................................................................................30
1.3 Adapt the slate of winter recreational activities and maintenance operations .......................................................................37
1.4 Broaden the slate of summer recreational activities and maintenance operations ................................................................46
1.5 Control undesirable plant species ............................................................................................................................................55
HEAVY RAINFALLS
2.1 Harvest rainwater ....................................................................................................................................................................60
2.2 Increase infrastructures’ and buildings’ resilience to runoff water ..........................................................................................82
2.3 Minimize sealed surfaces .........................................................................................................................................................93
2.4 Ensure the capacity of stormwater and combined sewer systems ........................................................................................106
2.5 Increase and preserve tree and plant cover ...........................................................................................................................114
2.6 Develop emergency measures for heavy rainfalls .................................................................................................................130
HEAT WAVES
3.1 Mitigate heat islands .............................................................................................................................................................133
3.2 Provide spaces for people to cool off and avoid exposure to oppressive heat (cooling islands) ...........................................161
3.3 Protect biodiversity against heat waves ................................................................................................................................176
3.4 Develop emergency measures for heat waves ......................................................................................................................181
DESTRUCTIVE STORMS
4.1 Increase infrastructures’ and buildings’ resilience to wind and freezing rain ........................................................................190
4.2 Develop emergency measures in case of prolonged power outage (winter conditions) .......................................................196
4.3 Increase plants’ resilience to wind and freezing rain .............................................................................................................203
DROUGHT
5.1 Ensure the quality and quantity of drinking water ................................................................................................................209
5.2 Increase infrastructures’ and buildings’ resilience to soil drying ...........................................................................................214
5.3 Increase plants’ resilience to drought ....................................................................................................................................219
RIVER FLOODS
6.1 Increase infrastructures’ and buildings’ resilience to river fl oods ..........................................................................................230
6.2 Develop emergency measures for fl ood-prone areas ............................................................................................................232
6.3 Increase the stability of river banks facing erosion................................................................................................................236
APPENDIX: TECHNICAL REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................................241
CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLAN 2015-2020 - ADAPTATION MEASURES 3
ADAPTATION MEASURES
INTRODUCTION TO THE BRIEFS
The briefs that follow each introduce one of 24 adaptation measures selected for this fi rst Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the
Montréal Urban Agglomeration. For each hazard, we selected three to six key measures, as presented in the table below.
– Protect biodiversity
– Increase infrastructures’ resilience to the freeze-thaw cycle
– Adapt the slate of winter recreational activities and maintenance operations
– Broaden the slate of summer recreational activities and maintenance operations
HIGHER AVERAGE – Control undesirable plant species
TEMPERATURES
– Harvest rainwater
– Increase infrastructures’ and buildings’ resilience to runoff water
– Minimize sealed surfaces
– Ensure the capacity of stormwater and combined sewer systems
– Increase and preserve tree and plant cover
HEAVY RAINFALLS – Develop emergency measures for heavy rainfalls
– Mitigate heat islands
– Provide spaces for people to cool off and avoid exposure to oppressive heat (cooling islands)
– Protect biodiversity against heat waves
– Develop emergency measures for heat waves
HEAT WAVES
– Increase infrastructures’ and buildings’ resilience to wind and freezing rain
– Develop emergency measures in case of prolonged power outage (winter conditions)
– Increase plants’ resilience to wind and freezing rain
DESTRUCTIVE STORMS
– Ensure the quality and quantity of drinking water
– Increase infrastructures’ and buildings’ resilience to soil drying
– Increase plants’ resilience to drought
DROUGHT
– Increase infrastructures’ and buildings’ resilience to river fl oods
– Develop emergency measures for fl ood-prone areas
– Increase the stability of river banks facing erosion
RIVER FLOODS
4 CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLAN 2015-2020 - ADAPTATION MEASURES
These briefs have two purposes: to educate and to inform After this general information, we present two tables
the agglomeration’s various administrative units in regard listing the adaptation measures that Central Services and
to their commitments. As such, to begin with, we provide a the administrative units have committed to implementing
summary of the benefi ts, co-benefi ts and details to consider for by 2020: one table for the departments and one for the
implementation. Since a climate change adaptation measure cities and boroughs.
can translate into various actions, examples of such actions are
also included on each brief.
SAMPLE STRUCTURE FOR AN ADAPTATION MEASURES BRIEF
BRIEF 1.1
BENEFITS
Lists the direct Adaptation measures for higher average temperature
positive effects of PROTECT BIODIVERSITY WHY?
implementing the Explains the main reasons
adaptation measure. why this measure is
important to implement.
Bene(cid:198) ts Why?
• Preservation of biodiversity and Lack of biodiversity, particularly among urban trees, makes the Montréal
ecological services despite the agglomeration vulnerable to current and future pest insect species. The impacts
disruptions associated with higher of Dutch elm disease and the emerald ash borer clearly illustrate the disastrous
average temperature consequences of lack of urban biodiversity. As a result, all actions that aim to
increase and preserve our existing biodiversity are among the most effective
• Better plant species resilience when means for increasing the environment’s resilience to climate change.
faced with various stressors
Potential co-bene(cid:198) ts What we can do
• Improved living environment • Equip ourselves with an urban forestry plan
• Vegetation that reduces intra-urban • Multiply the diversity of plant genera and species adapted to the
heat islands environment on a local scale (ex.: on a street section) WHAT WE CAN DO
POTENTIAL CO-BENEFITS • Vraeignewtaatteiorn a nthda rte hdeulcpes tthoe r eqtuaainn tity •• I Mncarienatasein t ohre rneustmobree rt hoef pcorontneecctetidv itayr eoafs g reen spaces and protected areas Provides concrete examples
Lists the indirect positive osef wweart esyr sttheamt escapes into the • Include climate change scenarios in ecosystem planning and of ways to implement the
effects of implementing • m Reasntoargee mdeegnrta ded ecosystems and support species recovery measure. These actions are
the adaptation measure. • Select plants with various types of root systems in only presented as possible
In some cases, we note the Cmoanlastdraapinttast iaonnd r isks • p Phuyt tiontteoc phlnaocleo ga ym poronjietocrtisn g network for current and future pests and options. The adaptation
positive effects regarding • Dif(cid:205) culty (cid:205) nding invasive plant species measure can be translated
other hazards. wdievell rssui(cid:205)i teedd stpoe ucirebsa tnh caot nadreit ions •• C Sehloeocts ep lbainotlso gaidcaapl tpeeds tt oc onnetwro lc lmimeathteo dcso nditions into many other actions.
• Diversi(cid:205) ed plant species are not always • Promote the My Space for Life Garden program
available in tree and plant nurseries
• Lack of knowledge about current
biodiversity
CONSTRAINTS AND MALADAPTATION RISKS
The constraints list the specifi c conditions or potential
obstacles that must be taken into account when applying
the adaptation measure. The maladaptation risks explain the
negative effects that could arise from implementing a poorly
planned action or one that fails to consider certain factors.
CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLAN 2015-2020 - ADAPTATION MEASURES 5
FOLLOW UP MECHANISMS
Central Services handles the implementation and monitoring of
the measures promoted in the various plans, policies, programs
and other initiatives they have developed, while the boroughs
and municipalities are directly responsible for implementing the
measures adopted within the Climate Change Adaptation Plan
for the Montréal Urban Agglomeration.
We plan to carry out a mid-term report for the climate
change adaptation plan in 2017-2018. This evaluation will
also constitute an opportunity to make changes and additions
to the plan as needed. A fi nal report on this fi rst Adaptation
Plan will be published at the end of the Plan’s period, which
is 2015-2020.
To ensure the most precise monitoring possible, the
commitments written into this Plan are accompanied, in most
cases, by a specifi c goal and a monitoring indicator. Each
department, city and borough will be responsible for providing
the Service de l’environnement (environment department) with
the data about their progress in implementing their measures
for the mid-term and fi nal reports.
Greened roof on one of the towers of the Québécor Média head offi ce
Credit: © Philippe Aubry
6 CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLAN 2015-2020 - ADAPTATION MEASURES
BRIEF 1.1
Adaptation measures for higher average temperature
PROTECT BIODIVERSITY
Why?
Benefi ts
Lack of biodiversity, particularly among urban trees, makes the Montréal
• Preservation of biodiversity and
agglomeration vulnerable to current and future pest insect species. The impacts
ecological services despite the
of Dutch elm disease and the emerald ash borer clearly illustrate the disastrous
disruptions associated with higher
consequences of lack of urban biodiversity. As a result, all actions that aim to
average temperature
increase and preserve our existing biodiversity are among the most effective
• Better plant species resilience when
means for increasing the environment’s resilience to climate change.
faced with various stressors
Potential co-benefi ts What we can do
• Improved living environment • Equip ourselves with an urban forestry plan
• Vegetation that reduces intra-urban • Multiply the diversity of plant genera and species adapted to the
heat islands environment on a local scale (ex.: on a street section)
• Vegetation that helps to retain • Increase the number of protected areas
rainwater and reduce the quantity
• Maintain or restore the connectivity of green spaces and protected areas
of water that escapes into the
• Include climate change scenarios in ecosystem planning and
sewer system
management
• Restore degraded ecosystems and support species recovery
• Select plants with various types of root systems in
Constraints and
phytotechnology projects
maladaptation risks
• Put into place a monitoring network for current and future pests and
invasive plant species
• Diffi culty fi nding
• Choose biological pest control methods
diversifi ed species that are
well suited to urban conditions • Select plants adapted to new climate conditions
• Diversifi ed plant species are not always • Promote the My Space for Life Garden program
available in tree and plant nurseries
• Lack of knowledge about current
biodiversity
CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLAN 2015-2020 - ADAPTATION MEASURES 7
Adaptation measures for higher average BRIEF 1.1
temperature: Protect biodiversity
Departments that will implement this measure
Y
A
PLANS, POLICIES, PROGRAMS ORIENTATIONS, OBJECTIVES, ACTIONS W
DEPARTMENT R
AND OTHER INITIATIVES IN RELATION TO THE HAZARD E
D 0
N 02
U 2
Direction générale – Division Plan de développement durable de la Action 8: Try out replacement solutions for mineral X
du développement durable collectivité montréalaise 2010-2015 abrasives
(headquarters – sustainable (sustainable development plan for the
development division) Montréal community 2010-2015 – Action 31: Establish a framework for collaboration
in French only) to protect and develop areas of land that are rich in
biodiversity
Action 32: Make the most of green infrastructures and
their ecological services in urban settings
Action 34: Strengthen the ecological management of
green spaces on the Montréal territory
Service de la diversité sociale et Integrated urban revitalization program IUR Territoire Nord-Est (Montréal-Nord): Greening X
des sports (social diversity and (IUR) project for the spaces surrounding playing fi elds at fi ve
sport department) schools, which encourages plant biodiversity.
IUR Hodge-Place Benoît (Saint-Laurent): Project to
create an organic market garden production greenhouse
complex in an urban setting; half of a greenhouse will
be dedicated to applied research and development in the
aim of introducing new cultures to diversify the range of
plants on offer.
Service de la mise Schéma d’aménagement et de Orientation: Reduce the risks associated with the X
en valeur du territoire (territory développement de l’agglomération de impacts of climate change
enhancement department) Montréal – Schéma (2015) (Montréal urban Objective: Increase the leaf surface area index to 25%
agglomeration land use and development by 2025 as well as the general greening of the territory
plan – in French only)
Orientation: Protect and develop territories of
ecological interest
Objective: In the medium term, grow the share of
protected ground surface areas to 10% of the territory,
and more in the longer term
Service de la mise Plan d’urbanisme de Montréal (2004) Objective 16: Preserve and develop the natural heritage X
en valeur du territoire (territory (2004 Montréal urban development plan –
enhancement department) in French only) Action 16.1: Preserve and develop natural milieus and
encourage their integration into urban development
Service de l’environnement Plan de développement durable de la Action 34: Strengthen the ecological management of X
(environment department) collectivité montréalaise 2010-2015 green spaces on the Montréal territory
(sustainable development plan for the
Montréal community 2010-2015 –
in French only)
8 CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLAN 2015-2020 - ADAPTATION MEASURES
Adaptation measures for higher average BRIEF 1.1
temperature: Protect biodiversity
Departments that will implement this measure
Y
A
PLANS, POLICIES, PROGRAMS ORIENTATIONS, OBJECTIVES, ACTIONS W
DEPARTMENT R
AND OTHER INITIATIVES IN RELATION TO THE HAZARD E
D 0
N 02
U 2
Service de l’environnement Aquatic environment monitoring program COURDO program: evaluates the general quality X
(environment department) (programme de suivi du milieu aquatique) of watercourses
QUALO program: evaluates the water’s bacteriological
quality in rivers surrounding the Island of Montréal
RUISSO program: evaluates the water quality in inland
rivers and lakes
PLUVIO program: evaluates the quality in stormwater
sewer systems
Service de l’Espace pour la vie My Space for Life Garden program Encourage the development of biodiversity zones in X
(Space for Life department) citizens’ yards and balconies – certifi cation program
provided
Service de l’Espace pour la vie Citizen research and science program Better understand the monarch butterfl y’s distribution X
(Space for Life department) on the monarch butterfl y and identify its reproduction sites in the aim of protecting
its populations
Service des grands parcs, du Plan de développement durable de la Action 31: Establish a framework for collaboration X
verdissement et du mont Royal collectivité montréalaise 2010-2015 to protect and develop areas of land that are rich in
(large parks, greening and Mont (sustainable development plan for the biodiversity
Royal department) Montréal community 2010-2015 – in
French only) Action 32: Make the most of green infrastructures and
their ecological services in urban settings
Service des grands parcs, du Tree Policy of Montréal (2005) The Tree Policy places the tree at the core of Montréal’s X
verdissement et du mont Royal urban planning to ensure that the city has a viable,
(large parks, greening and Mont sustainable future, improve the quality of living
Royal department) environments and give ourselves the gift of a green city
that’s more pleasant and in better health.
Service des grands parcs, du Plan d’action canopée 2012-2021 (canopy This plan aims to reach 25% tree canopy in the Montréal X
verdissement et du mont Royal action plan 2012-2021 – in French only) agglomeration by 2025. This will translate into planting
(large parks, greening and Mont 300,000 trees, not counting the replacement of dead or
Royal department) sick trees.
Service des grands parcs, du Politique de protection et de mise en valeur This policy is a framework to ensure the longevity of X
verdissement et du mont Royal des milieux naturels (2004) (policy on the natural environments, grow their surface area, and
(large parks, greening and Mont protection and development of natural maximize biodiversity. A number of projects fl ow from the
Royal department) environments (2004) – in French only) policy, including the adoption of a concept plan for the
East island greenbelt, the consolidation of a number of
ecoterritories, and the creation of a directory of protected
natural environments in the Montréal agglomeration.
CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLAN 2015-2020 - ADAPTATION MEASURES 9
Adaptation measures for higher average BRIEF 1.1
temperature: Protect biodiversity
Departments that will implement this measure
Y
A
PLANS, POLICIES, PROGRAMS ORIENTATIONS, OBJECTIVES, ACTIONS W
DEPARTMENT R
AND OTHER INITIATIVES IN RELATION TO THE HAZARD E
D 0
N 02
U 2
Service des grands parcs, du Plan d’action de la forêt urbaine (2015) Strategy to slow the progress of the emerald ash borer X
verdissement et du mont Royal - Volet lutte à l’agrile du frêne (urban forest and reduce its impacts in Montréal.
(large parks, greening and Mont action plan (2015) – emerald ash borer
Royal department) control section – in French only)
Service des grands parcs, du Ecosystem management program This program helps us better understand the dynamics of X
verdissement et du mont Royal natural environments, and learn and monitor ecosystems
(large parks, greening and Mont to ensure their integrity and their quality for current and
Royal department) future generations.
The program is in two parts:
– Planning: including ecological audits
(biophysical inventories)
– Management: including interventions and the
surveillance program
Service des infrastructures, Guide d’aménagement durable des rues Orientation: Improve the protection of biodiversity in X
de la voirie et des transports de Montréal (2013) (Montréal sustainable natural environments and green spaces
(infrastructure, roads and street construction guide (2013) – in Objectives: Make the most of green infrastructures and
transportation department) French only) their ecological services in urban settings. Brief 8 of the
Guide on urban ecology will specify, among other things,
the optimal tree planting options for various categories of
streets.
10 CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLAN 2015-2020 - ADAPTATION MEASURES